Why we need to touch and be touched

Physical touch triggers the release of dopamine and serotonin (Photo: Shutterstock)

In the 13th century, Germany’s King Frederick II came up with a diabolical study to find out if children would learn to speak if they weren’t spoken to. He wanted to prove that they would naturally speak German.

For the research, Frederick took babies from their mothers at birth and placed them under the care of nurses. The nurses were strictly forbidden from speaking to the babies or even in their hearing. Frederick also imposed a second rule: the nurses weren’t allowed to unnecessarily touch the infants.